The Manan-Maxiangdi Hydropower Station is located in the Maxiangdi River Basin of Nepal and serves as the first-stage project of the Maxiangdi cascade hydropower development. The project is being constructed by Sinohydro Bureau 6, invested in by Sichuan Investment Group and other partners, designed by Qingyuan Engineering Company, and developed under a BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) model. Construction officially commenced on October 22, 2024.

　On June 1, 2026, the downstream heading of Tunnel No. 3 at the Manan-Maxiangdi Hydropower Station achieved a monthly advance of over 110 meters in May—a new record for the project. This milestone brings the main tunnel’s cumulative excavation to 631 meters (surpassing the 600-meter mark), with the total excavation across all tunnels now reaching 954 meters against a designed total length of 1,795 meters. Based on the current progress rate of 110 meters per month from this single working face, the tunnel is expected to achieve full breakthrough by the end of 2026.

　This breakthrough was accomplished by Sinohydro Bureau 7 Co., Ltd.—the EPC contractor—despite significant challenges including complex geology (with a high proportion of Class IV and V rock masses), unstable power supply, and water inflow in the tunnel. The team overcame these obstacles through optimized construction techniques, round-the-clock shift operations, and enhanced support and drainage measures.

　Throughout construction, the project has faced multiple difficulties: unstable electricity, highly fractured and weak surrounding rock, and persistent seepage inside the tunnel. In response, the project team implemented scientific resource allocation, streamlined workflows, and strictly enforced critical controls—including power reliability, dewatering systems, and real-time rock mass monitoring. Close coordination among all personnel and continuous shift work enabled consistent progress while maintaining stringent safety and quality standards.

　The Manan-Maxiangdi Hydropower Station is a 135 MW run-of-river facility located in Gandaki Province, Nepal. It stands as a key energy cooperation project under the China-Nepal Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).